Submission Type

Poster

Start Date

4-26-2023

Abstract

As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend relationships, we examined connections between 17-year-olds’ observed conflict behavior and their own and their mothers’ perceptions of their relationships. The adolescents were videotaped during cooking tasks with a sibling and a friend. Videos were transcribed and coded for conflict and averted conflict. Adolescents and mothers completed questionnaires rating the sibling and friend relationships on asymmetry, conflict, relational aggression, prosocial behavior/harmony, and intimacy. We hypothesized that: (1) mothers’ perceptions of the sibling relationships would be more positive than their perceptions of the friendships; (2) mothers’ perceptions of the sibling relationships would be more strongly correlated with observed conflict behavior than would their perceptions of the friendships; (3) adolescents’ perceptions of the friendships would be more positive than their perceptions of the sibling relationships, and (4) adolescents’ perceptions of the two relationships would be equally correlated with their conflict behavior. All four hypotheses were supported to some extent. The results suggest that adolescents’ insight into their own relationships may be limited and that mothers’ perspectives on their adolescent children’s relationships may be more grounded in reality than expected.

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Sponsored by Ganie DeHart

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Apr 26th, 12:00 AM

143 - Observed Conflict Behavior and Mothers’ and Adolescents’ Perceptions of 17-year-olds’ Sibling and Friend Relationships

As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend relationships, we examined connections between 17-year-olds’ observed conflict behavior and their own and their mothers’ perceptions of their relationships. The adolescents were videotaped during cooking tasks with a sibling and a friend. Videos were transcribed and coded for conflict and averted conflict. Adolescents and mothers completed questionnaires rating the sibling and friend relationships on asymmetry, conflict, relational aggression, prosocial behavior/harmony, and intimacy. We hypothesized that: (1) mothers’ perceptions of the sibling relationships would be more positive than their perceptions of the friendships; (2) mothers’ perceptions of the sibling relationships would be more strongly correlated with observed conflict behavior than would their perceptions of the friendships; (3) adolescents’ perceptions of the friendships would be more positive than their perceptions of the sibling relationships, and (4) adolescents’ perceptions of the two relationships would be equally correlated with their conflict behavior. All four hypotheses were supported to some extent. The results suggest that adolescents’ insight into their own relationships may be limited and that mothers’ perspectives on their adolescent children’s relationships may be more grounded in reality than expected.

 

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